Aviation: Jet Airways stops free meals for domestic economy passengers

Much to the discomfort of flyers, struggling full-service carrier Jet Airways has announced it will now stop providing complimentary meals in the economy class on domestic routes under two more fare categories. The revision in fares will be effective for tickets booked from December 21, for travel starting January 7, said a Jet Airways statement today.

Jet Airways said, "In addition to the light and deal categories introduced earlier, Jet Airways will offer two more categories under economy travel saver and classic," adding that the latest revision in complimentary meals would be available only for economy passengers who booked their tickets under the flex option.

The statement further said the airline will continue to offer complimentary meals across saver and classic fare options to those passengers who have made bookings prior to December 21.

Notably, the airline currently offers five fare options in the economy class - light, deal, saver, classic and flex - for customers booking flights on domestic routes. Jet Airways had in 2016 introduced a tier-based flexible fare system.

The statement said that Jet Airways frequent flyers holding platinum and gold card membership will continue to avail on-board complimentary meal facility as before.

Jet Airways, which owes money to vendors and employees, is striving hard to stay afloat and is seeking funds by raising equity and selling a stake in its loyalty programme. The airline is also cutting flights on some routes and increasing frequencies on others to boost profit.

Seeking to reduce costs in several areas in its bid to turn itself around, the Jet Airways is targeting areas  that include sub-fleet simplification, reduction in sales and distribution and maintenance cost, route rationalisation, renegotiation of contracts with vendors, among others, in the wake of three consecutive quarterly losses.

Amid cash paucity, the airline has been defaulting on salary payments to its senior management, pilots and engineers. It has also grounded many of its aircraft and has been trimming workforce to cut cost.  

The survival of 25-year-old Jet Airways is crucial for the companies from which it leases over 100 of its fleet of 124 planes. The airline reportedly has 225 Boeing Co 737 MAX jets on order.

Notably, price warfare in India has hurt Jet Airways which competes with no-frills, low-cost carriers like InterGlobe Aviation Ltd`s IndiGo and SpiceJet Ltd.